Guinta

Friday, November 18, 2011

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A long road winds through America’s soul. It began at Bunker Hill and runs all the way through the sands of Kuwait and Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan. It is the road to freedom, and every inch of its long distance was defended by a U.S. serviceman or servicewoman.

It is right that we pay tribute to those who wore the uniform with the Veterans Day holiday. But a grateful nation should honor their service and commitment with deeds as well as words.

That is especially important here in New Hampshire. Nearly 128,000 veterans call the Granite State home – the nation’s sixth largest veteran population based on percent of the entire state population. Let me update you on some of the things I’m doing in Washington to help them.

On Nov. 2, the House passed the Veterans Compensation Cost of Living Adjustment Act. It gives a 3.6 percent increase in benefits to veterans, their surviving spouses and children. I was grateful to see the House vote overwhelmingly in support of the veterans who have given so much for all of us.

I hosted a special Veterans Job Fair at Manchester Community College the day before Veterans Day. More than 40 employers were on hand to talk with former service members and their families. Our veterans sometimes have difficulty making the transition from the military to civilian life; in fact, they have a higher unemployment rate than the general population. I’m glad this job fair will help bring them together with prospective employers. The event is part of my ongoing “Getting Granite Staters Back to Work” jobs initiative, and I look forward to sponsoring more jobs-related events in the months ahead.

On the legislative front, I have been actively working on behalf of veteran’s issues since I came to Congress in January. I proudly introduced H.R. 1863, the Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011. It would make sure qualifying veterans have access to at least one full-service Veterans Affairs medical center in their state, or that comparable hospital care and medical services are made available to them in their home state. That would be especially helpful to New Hampshire’s veterans, who often must travel to Massachusetts for specialty medical care.

I also co-sponsored H.R. 2433, the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act. It would allow 100,000 unemployed veterans to receive up to one year of Montgomery GI benefits. I’m pleased to report this bill passed the House on Oct. 12 by a 418-6 vote.

In addition, I have also co-sponsored eight other important veterans-related bills ranging from authorizing the creation of a Gold Star Mothers National Monument in Washington, D.C., to establishing a special House Select Committee on POW and MIA affairs.

Serving the needs of veterans in Congress is an ongoing process. Their challenges and situations are as diverse and varied as our former service members themselves.

No single piece of legislation can address all of their concerns.

So I remain committed to working on their behalf, not just during the Veterans Day season, but throughout the reminder of my time as your U.S. representative.

I strongly believe a promise made is a promise kept. Our veterans began their military service by taking an oath, swearing they would “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” They fulfilled that promise with their service. Now that they have left the Armed Forces, it is our duty as American citizens to honor that service with our respect, appreciation and active support.

I look forward to reporting back to you in two weeks on the latest developments in Washington. Until next time, please know that I am always on your side and am actively fighting for New Hampshire’s interests in Washington.

U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta represents New Hampshire District 1 in Washington D.C. His column, “Frankly Speaking” can be read in the Merrimack Journal and Bedford Journal twice a month. He can be contacted in Washington at 1223 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515 or by phone at 1-202-225-5456. His New Hampshire office is at 33 Lowell St., Manchester, NH 03101 or 641-9536. Guinta can also be reached via e-mail by visiting https://guinta.house.gov/contact-me. You can also follow what he’s doing 24/7 on Facebook at www.facebook.com/repfrankguinta and on Twitter at @RepFrankGuinta.